Beat up outsiders who play Holi with water: Raj Thackeray

Mumbai: After last week’s call to burn the new autorickshaws bought by “outsiders”, Raj Thackarey is still playing the classic Maharashtra Navnirman Sena card. Now, he’s asked party workers to ensure that “outsiders” celebrate a waterless Holi, while addressing them during a one-and-a-half-hour interaction.

A party worker who was present at the meeting said: “He (Raj) said that during Holi celebrations, if any north Indian is found using water, then ‘aadhi haath jodun sanga’ (issue a first request). He then said, ‘Nahitar haath sodun sanga’ (if they do not listen, then beat them up).”

Observers say that Raj’s statements are an attempt to cheer his party workers up and boost their enthusiasm. Following the party’s humiliating defeat in the Assembly elections, MNS leaders and activists have been lying low in Thane, not taking up any prominent issues. The morale of the party activists is low and they don’t have any agenda to go with, the observers add.